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HP apple growers protest outside Adani stores
Sanyukt Kisan Manch said that in 2017, Adani’s opening rates were fixed at ₹85/kg, while five years later when the input cost has increased 50 times, it is offering ₹76
Unhappy with the apple procurement rates fixed by Adani Agri Fresh, Himachal fruit growers on Thursday staged protests outside three controlled atmospheric stores in Rohru, Theog and Rampur. Farmers also clashed with police after heated exchanges in Sainj in Theog.
Rural women from the apple-growing region also participated in the stir. Sanyukt Kisan Manch said that in 2017, Adani’s opening rates were fixed at ₹85/kg, while five years later when the input cost has increased 50 times, it is offering ₹76.
Apple growers in Rohru have given a one-week ultimatum to the management for redrawing the prices for apple procurement.
The growers also expressed resentment over the delay caused in unloading the vehicles at Adani stores. “Most of the farmers say that it takes 2-3 days to unload the vehicles which should be done in 24 hours. However, the company has accepted our demands,” said Sanjay Chauhan, co-convenor of the Manch .
Addressing a dharna outside the Bithal cold store in Rampur, MLA Rakesh Singha said the policies of the HP government give free rein to corporate houses to loot the people. “Apple growers will not let it happen,” said the Theog MLA. In Sainj, president of Kisan Sabha Kuldeep Singh Tanwar said there is a nexus between the company and the government. “Police and quick response teams have been deployed outside the stores and farmers were prevented from holding talks with the store managers,” he added.
Meanwhile, Satyendra Gaur, business head, Adani Agri Fresh Limited, in a statement said, “Adani Agri Fresh Ltd’s (AAFL’s) progressive approach over the past two decades has strengthened the relationship we have built with Himachal Pradesh’s over 15,000 apple farmers and set new benchmarks in the state’s apple trade. This year too, apple growers have enthusiastically come forward to sell their crops to AAFL. In just the first 10 days, AAFL has already procured 7,500 tonnes of apples.”
In Himachal Pradesh, which annually produces close to 10 lakh tonnes of apples, AAFL has developed controlled atmosphere storage facilities at Rampur, Sainj and Rohru with a total capacity of close to 25,000 tonnes.
This state-of-the-art infrastructure aims to ensure higher returns to apple growers and a round-the-year supply of better-quality applies to consumers, he added.
